the Future of Democracy Leo A Gher Professor Emeritus Southern Illinois University Fake News ID: 658427
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Fake
News
and
the
Future
of Democracy
Leo A. Gher, Professor Emeritus Southern Illinois UniversitySlide8
Fake News
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So, what is Fake News?
with intent to mislead forfinancial or political gain*
* Hunt, Elle (December 17, 2016). "What is fake news? How to spot it and what you can do to stop it". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
HOAX
Deliberate
misinformationSlide9
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
Post-Truth RealitySlide10
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
Post-Truth RealitySlide11
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
Other Fake News Sites:
News Examiner
World News Daily Report
Empire News
Now8News
NewsBuzzDaily
The Stately
HeroldSlide12
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
M
ainstream media are integral to
American
democracy
...
the 4
th
Estate
…
now under attack
along with USA governanceWhat is not
FAKE NEWS!Slide13
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
YES
…
Mainstream media may have
opinion
,
viewpoint
,
slant
,
bias
,
partiality…So may reportersbut reporters pursue stories, not agandas
What is not
FAKE NEWS!Slide14
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
B
ut
Mainstream
media are not Fake News
nor
the
e
nemy of the people
Democracy does not work without an informed public
W
hat is
not FAKE NEWS!Slide15
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
Leo at the
Azerbaijan-American Academy of Journalism
Kompromat
found everywhere I worked for the past quarter century!Slide16
Leo with newspaper, magazine, and television journalists at The
Azerbaijan-American Academy of Journalism
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
Egypt
Lithuania
Croatia
Estonia
Syria
AzerbaijanSlide17
Fake News
Fake News
_______
Dealing with
Kompromat
(Russian propaganda tool)
broad
attempt to manufacture public
cynicism
&
confusion
Fake news serves
the interests of autocrats around the world.
f
or decades
Nan Gher & friendSlide18
Fake News
Fake News
_______
Dealing with
We learn
to
distrust
leaders
&
institutions
Fake News
undermines
a society’s ability
to hold the powerful to account
and ensure the proper functioning of government
.
f
or decades
Nan Gher & friendSlide19
Fake News – elements / tools
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Fake
NewsSocial botsBlack propaganda
Circular reportingEcho chamber
Post-truthDoublespeak
False balanceGaslighting
Spear phishingSlide20
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
So, what is
POST-TRUTH?Political culture in which debate is framed largely by appeals to emotion
.Disconnected from policy discussions, repeated assertions, denials, and talking points drown out factual rebuttals. So, what is
BLACK PROPAGANDA? False information that
purports to be from a source on one side of a conflict, but is actually from the opposing side. It is typically used to vilify, embarrass, or misrepresent the enemy.So, what is CIRCULAR REPORTING
?
Is a situation where information appears to come from multiple, independent sources, but in fact is coming from only one source
.Slide21
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
So
, what is ECHO CHAMBER?A situation in which information, ideas, or beliefs are amplified and repeated
inside a defined system. Claims are repeated again and again until most people assume that some extreme variation of the story is trueSo, what is SOCIAL BOT
(or socbot)?Automatically generate messages (e.g. tweets) to advocate ideas or support campaigns by acting as a "follower."
Social bots played a role in the US presidential 2016 election. Twitterbots and autonomous Facebook agents influencing
real people
.
So, what is
SPEAR PHISHING
?Email attacks directed at specific individuals or companies. By far, this technique is the most successful on the internet today, accounting for 91% of attacks.Slide22
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
So, what is
DOUBLESPEAK?Is language that deliberately obscures, disguises, distorts, or reverses the meaning of words. It usually take the form of euphemisms (e.g., "downsizing" for layoffs, "servicing the target" for bombing), in which case it is primarily meant to make the truth sound more palatable
.So, what is FALSE BALANCE?Is an issue presented in which opposing viewpoints are given equal weight, but evidence does not support a true balanced. An example: the "debate" on child vaccinations causing autism. Giving equal voice to both sides of the “debate” makes it seem like there is a serious disagreement within the scientific community when there is none.Slide23
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
Is there distrust in America?
in the institutions of government
?
in politics on both sides?
in mainstream media?
YOU BET! LET’S TAKE A LOOK
…Slide24
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
Walter
Cronkite Anchor – CBS
Evening News 1962
–81
”The
most trusted man in America."
1976 – 72
% of Americans had high trust and confidence in mainstream media –
in 2016
it was at its the lowest point, 32%
Most trusted today? Tom Hanks!Slide25
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
Americans’ Trust in the Mass Media
In general, how much trust and confidence do you have in the mass media – such as newspapers, TV and radio – when it comes to reporting the news fully, accurately, and fairly?
A great deal | a fair amount | not very much | none at all % Great deal | Fair amountSlide26
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
Trust in Mass Media, by Age
% Great deal | Fair amountSlide27
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
Trust in Mass Media, by Party
% Great deal | Fair amountSlide28
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
Public Trust in American InstitutionsSlide29
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
Public Trust in American InstitutionsSlide30
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
Public Trust in American InstitutionsSlide31
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
Public Trust in American InstitutionsSlide32
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
So,
where
are Americans going to get their news?
Mainstream MediaSlide33
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
Snapchat
S
ocial
media
sites having
more than 100,000,000 registered users.
GabSlide34
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
% of US Adult population using social media.
In recent 3 years, persons 18-34 using social media increased 500%
65%
76%Slide35
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
7
50
33
12
65
58
60
In 2005 only
7% of the US population used
social media.
Now
that figure has increased almost tenfold, to 65%. Of those who use the internet a massive majority of 76% of American's use social media
.
% trusting mainstream media % using social mediaSlide36
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
Fake
News
8.7
million
RealNews7.4
million
engagements
Source:
BuzzFeed
News Analysis – August, September, October 2016Slide37
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
So, what is
MAINSTREAM MEDIA? Collectively, the mass media news that influence a large number of people (the Big Six). Traditionally, the 4
th Estate - the watchdog of government. Trained reporters, editors, and publishers. So, what is ALTERNATIVE MEDIA?Essentially, media that
are watching the watchers (monitoring, assessing, critiquing, and challenging mainstream media). Media concentration (Big Six)
has raised concerns of a homogenization of viewpoints. ALT-media (right-left-independent) serves the public as voices of diversity. So, what is
SOCIAL MEDIA
?
Essentially, Internet outlets that aggregate “trending news” among “friends,” regardless of authenticity, accuracy, or intent. Every voice here is reporter, editor, and publisher. Social media is highly susceptible to Fake News. Slide38
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
MAINSTREAM
MEDIA – The Big Six Media Outlets Revenues (2014)Comcast: NBC | 26 TV stations | cable networks: CNBC, MSNBC, Weather Channel, USA, Bravo, Syfy, Esquire, Comcast SportsNet,
NBCUniversal, Universal Pictures, et al. Disney: ABC | cable networks: ESPN, Disney Channel, A&E, Lifetime | 30 radio stations (ABC News Radio) |, book publishing | Touchstone | Marvel Entertainment | Lucasfilm
| Pixar | co-partner Hearst Corporation (TV stations, newspapers, magazines) NewsCorp: Fox Broadcasting | cable: Fox News/Business/Sports, National Geographic, FX |
Wall Street Journal | New York Post | Barron |
SmartMoney
| HarperCollins | 20th Century Fox | Searchlight Pictures | Fox News Radio | Fox
NewsTalk
| and others. Slide39
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
MAINSTREAM
MEDIA – The Big Six Media Outlets Revenues (2014)Time Warner: CNN | TBS | TNT | truTV | Turner Classic Movies | CW | HBO | Cinemax |Cartoon Network | NBA TV | Warner Bros |
Castle Rock | DC ComicsViacom: MTV | Nickelodeon | Nick at Nite
| VH1 | BET | Comedy Central | Paramount Pictures | Paramount Home Entertainment. CBS: CBS TV Network | 30 TV stations | CBS Radio (130 stations) | CBS Television Studios; cable CBS Sports | Showtime | book publisher Simon & Schuster
.Newspapers
: Washington Post, New York Times, USA TodaySlide40
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
ALTERNATIVE MEDIA
Differ from mainstream media in content, production, or distribution. Some Internet examples: Wikipedia, Tumblr, Reddit, YouTube. TV: First People's TV, Indymedia, Democracy Now!
Radio: alt.news 26:46 (student run at SIUC), WDBX - 91.1 FM Carbondale, IL. ALT-Right Media: Breitbart
News, The Drudge Report, The Daily Stormer, Fash
the Nation.Slide41
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
So, what is
COGNITIVE DISSONANCE?Mental stress experienced by a person when confronted with new information
that contradicts existing beliefs, ideas, and values. We Humans seek to avoid cognitive dissonance of any kind.So, what is CONFIRMATION BIAS?On the Internet, people
aggregate with like-minded others. They read and pass along information that
confirms their established opinions. For example, a right-wing person usually
listens
to political commentary from conservative news sources, just as a left-wing person
usually listens
to political commentary from liberal news sources. By doing so
they avoid cognitive dissonance. The speed and volume of information (unedited) on the Internet is partially responsible for creating two Americas.Slide42
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
So,
how did we get here?Slide43
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
5
0 years ago, the newscast of the day was…
15 minutes long!CBS Evening News Walter CronkiteThe Huntley-Brinkley Report
Chet Huntley & David BrinkleyABC Evening News Howard K. Smith
Radio, TV and Newspaper news had trained reporters, supervising editors, and publishers (in 1000s).Slide44
Fake News
and the
Future
of
DemocracySlide45
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
FCC required broadcasters to
present controversial issues of public importance
in a manner that was honest, equitable, and balanced.
Personal Attack Rule whenever a person was subject to a personal attack during a broadcast. Stations had to notify and offer the opportunity to respond on-the-air.
P
olitical Editorial Rule
,
when
a station
broadcasted editorials endorsing or opposing candidates for public office, notified and allowed a reasonable opportunity to respond.
Eliminated
the Doctrine in 1987. Eliminated consolidation rules 1996Slide46
Fake News
and the
Future
of
DemocracySlide47
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
So, where are we now?
American democracy is in a fragile state.Plato (in The
Republic) warned us long ago: “tyranny is probably established out of no other regime than democracy.” He argued that as democracy matured confidence
in institutions dies away, and popular opinion becomes equal to leadership. He then claims:
“that is the moment when a tyrant will seize the day.” Slide48
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
So, where are we now?
American democracy is in a fragile state.I have been witness to failing democracy and tyrants seizing the day in… Tunisia, Egypt, and Azerbaijan.
Right now, Turkey is loosing its democracy. The government (Erdoğan) has shuttered more than 150 news outlets, and has imprisoned thousands – reporters, educators, opposition alike. Slide49
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
So, where are we now?
American democracy is in a fragile state.Voices of mainstream media are being silenced as:
“the enemy of the American people,” “among the most dishonest human beings on Earth.”
AND…Social media is becoming the primary source of news and information for a majority of Americans through fake
news and faux controversies.AND…
the
regime of
Vladimir Putin is
brazenly
attempting to disrupt elections in Western democracies, including the USA, France, Germany
. Slide50
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
So, what can be done?
Ask congress to reinstituted the FAIRNESS DOCTRINE
4) Demand that media conglomeration be reversed – break up the Big Six – so that more voices will be heard
2) Mandate curbs be imposed on social media to root out Fake News
6) Ask that civics courses (with sections on “how to understand modern media”) be required high school
again
5) Write
to mainstream media and demand that they return to their roots: less
opinion
and more original reporting
7) Call
on congress put an end to foreign government interference in American politics/elections through financial and trade sanctions3) Financially support Internet fact-checkers like Snopes and PolitiFact,Slide51
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
Thanks for listening,
LeoSlide52
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
The Five (5) Basic Tenets of Journalism – the
5-WsWho? What? Where? When? Why?Sample…Headline: Trump Issues Order Securing America’s Borders
March 6, 2017 (When); Washington, D.C. In a morning
briefing at the White House Press Room (Where), Donald J. Trump
(Who), 45th President of the United States, issued Executive Directive #ED 14,522
(
What)
:
Securing America’s Borders
. The President explained (
Why): “Our border security has been in dire need of ramping up. This order will improve our porous south border against criminals and illegal aliens.” Slide53
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
The Five (5) Basic Tenets of Journalism – the
5-WsWho? What? Where? When? Why?Sample…Headline: Impatient President Orders Security Directive Hostile to MexicansIn
an early morning (When) edict at the White House
(Where); a nascent President (
Who), commanded Homeland Security officers to intensify (What
)
surveillance at Mexican borders to stop
criminals
and illegal
aliens. Trump defended the order, “Our porous south border is in dire need of ramping up
.” (Why)
Obviously, a negative slant…Slide54
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
The Five (5) Basic Tenets of Journalism – the
5-WsWho? What? Where? When? Why?Sample…Headline: A Prudent President Issues Border Protection Measures.In an open morning
(When) briefing at the the White House
(Where); a concerned President Trump (
Who), with an eager Press corps looking on,
signed the
Securing
America’s Borders
decree
(What)
. A Presidential statement made it clear (Why
) that the order will improve our security protections against criminals and illegals. Obviously, a positive slant…Slide55
Fake News
and the
Future
of
Democracy
The Five (5) Basic Tenets of Journalism – the
5-WsWho? What? Where? When? Why?Sample…Headline: Risky
Trump Maneuver Tramples Mexican Rights!Without consultation, the “Donald” (Who)
closed the southern border in an early morning (When
) posting at the the White House
(
Where
)
.
With a confused Press corps looking
on, the President decreed, (
What) “Those trespassing (Why) will be hunted down, jailed, and then shipped back to Mexico.” Obviously, fake news…